2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

Expanding from motorcycles to automobiles worked for Honda, so why not Suzuki? The maker of the magnificent Hayabusa bike only sells 80,000 cars and trucks a year, mostly on the strength of its Hyundai/Kia-matching 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. The Grand Vitara remains its icon four-wheeler. And, for 2006, it’s much better than the one it replaces. But Suzuki has a long way to go to catch Honda, or Hyundai and Kia, for that matter–at least in terms of sales. The Grand Vitara has new, nicely creased sheetmetal on an integrated unibody frame chassis, and it wears the most handsome styling in its class. It has a wide track and a long wheelbase with short overhangs for stability and a 3000-pound towing capacity. Suspension is independent all around, MacPherson struts in front and multilink in back. But its engine is an anemic carryover 2.7-liter version of the old Grand Vitara’s 2.5-liter V-6 making 185 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 184 pound-feet at 4500 rpm, up 20 horsepower and 22 pound-feet. It powers the rear wheels or all four through a new five-speed automatic.

Suzuki offers two all-wheel-drive systems. All models get electronic stability control, and base and Premium-package Grand Vitaras offer full-time four-wheel drive for $1200. Serious off-roaders will want full-time four-mode four-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential, locking center diff, and low-range, available for $1400 on XSport and Luxury versions. You can go far off-road with it, well beyond the small-SUV competition. A five-speed manual is available only with rear drive or the base full-time 4WD system in the two lower trim levels.

Despite excellent off-roadability, the changes with the new model give it much more show than go. A handsome interior complements exterior styling, but suffers from hard plastics and unconvincing woodgrains. The slalom-style shiftgate discourages manual rowing of gears. And while wind noise is low, the SUV lets in noise from the road and its loud, thrashy, slow engine. On-road handling is fair, the steering somewhat vague. The automatic sometimes chooses unusual places to upshift or downshift on steep hills.

The Grand Vitara would place high in the poorly represented compact sport/utility segment, which is full of aging Escapes and CR-Vs, if not for competition like the new Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, and the upcoming V-6 Toyota RAV4. The Grand Vitara enters the market short of what it needs to be a contender.

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Base Price

$25,294

Price as tested

$25,294

Vehicle layout

Front engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV

Engine

2.7L / 185-hp / 184 lb-ft 24-valve DOHC V-6

Transmission

5-speed man; 5-speed auto

Curb weight (f/r dist)

3709 lb (51 / 49%)

Wheelbase

103.9 in

Length x Width x Height

176.0 x 71.3 x 66.7 in

0-60 mph

9.5 sec

Quarter Mile

17.0 sec @ 80.1 mph

Braking, 60-0 mph

122 ft

600-foot slalom

59.9 mph (avg)

Lateral Acceleration

0.69 g (avg)

MT Figure Eight

30.3 sec @ 0.51 g (avg)

EPA City/Hwy Fuel Econ

18-19/23-24 mpg

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